Angelica oil has a herbaceous, earthy, peppery, green, and spicy scent regarded as a middle-to-top note. The odour intensity is about a four out of five and it blends well with florals, woods, or oriental blends. Medicinally, the oil can be used as a respiratory, digestive and reproductive tonic, or as an aphrodisiac or antispasmodic. Angelica addresses emotional concerns such as melancholy or disconnection from higher purpose. The oil makes a good substitute for ambrette, which can be hard to find. It may be distilled from the seeds or the root. Candied angelica stems were a popular European dessert condiment in the Victorian era. Angelica (Angelica archangelica )Plant Family Apiaceae (Umbeffiferae).Synonyms A. Officinalis , European angelica.Description and Distribution A tall hairy perennial, reaching up to 6 feet (2 m). It has attractive ferny leaves and umbels of whitish-green flowers. This particular species is native to Europe and Siberia. Most of the oil-producing plants are cultivated in Belgium, Hungary and Germany.Extraction Method Steam distillation of the fruits or seeds. An essential oil is also distilled from the roots and rhizomes, but this is not recommended for aromatherapy.Nature of the Oil Angelica seed oil has the viscosity of alcohol and is virtually colourless. The aroma is earthy-herbaceous with a piquant top-note. The odour effect is warming, and stimulating; a reputed aphrodisiac. If used in excess, however, the aroma is soporific.Main Constituents Phellandrene, pinene, limonene, linalol, borneol.Properties Antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, depurative, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogic, expectorant, febrifugal, nervine, stimulant, stomachic, sudorific, tonic.Aromatherapeutic Support Psoriasis, joint pain, respiratory disorders, flatulence, indigestion, fatigue, stress-related concerns.Blends Well With Citrus essences, clary sage, oakmoss, patchouli, vetiver. The oil is highly odoriferous, so use sparingly. General Herb Information *Note: Bianca Rosa Angelica Root Pure Essential Oil is not to be taken internally. Angelica is one of the noblest of herbs. Whether at the start of the season when the yard-wide clump of fretted leaves seems to develop by the day, or soon after when the melon-sized spheres of its compound umbels are seen against an early summer sky, the garden effect is of the very first order. Even when by late July the leaves decline and the chartreuse-green of the umbels turns to a sere straw-yellow the pattern is maintained, acting as a backdrop and foil to its fellows. Angelica looks superb in any position but is particularly good in an association with other plants with striking leaves - hostas, Acanthus , Macleaya and so on. There is only one disadvantage: angelicas usually behave as biennials so that if a conscious arrangement is planned its regeneration must be carefully contrived. Not that propagation, as such, is the slightest problem. Each flower stem produces many hundreds of seeds and almost all seem to germinate if sown as soon as ripe: self-sown seedlings are always available from August on - but for full development they must be in their permanent positions by the following spring. Even plants most carefully maintained in pots are apt to fail to reach the statuesque 6 feet of free grown specimens. As a garden plant therefore (and for dried arrangements indoors) angelica is of great worth and as a herb its diversity is as marked. To those old enough to have known the real thing the scent of a bruised stem or leafstalk is immediately evocative of the pale green candied angelica on the tops of cakes. The bright emerald, apparently plastic, alternative of today cannot compare. Though it cannot be picked out individually from amongst the others used, angelica is an important flavouring agent in liqueurs such as Benedictine. The origin of such cordials was, of course, medicinal so that angelica's use is not surprising. To quote Joseph Miller: "Angelica cordial, Alexipharmic, of great use in malignant pestilential Fevers, in all contagious Distempers, and the Plague itself". Other species of angelica are recommended: A. atropurpurea by the Shakers in North America, and A. pubescens and sylvestris in China. None, however, are as ornamental as this.The sweet and musky essential oil of angelica is used extensively in perfumes, toilet waters, and colognes and can be added to soaps and bath oils. As it is relaxing and fragrant, a few drops added to the bath water or foot bath is to be recommended. Botanical Name: Angelica archangelica Extraction Method: Steam DistilledColor: Pale yellow (cream)Consistency: ThinPerfumery Note: BaseAroma Strength: Medium - StrongAroma: Fresh, peppery, woody, herbaceous.Use: Dull skin, exhaustion, joint pain, psoriasis, toxin build-up, water retention. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.]Constituents: a-pinned, camphene, B-pinene, sabinene, d-3-carene, a-phellandrene, myrcene, limonene, B-phellandrene, cis-ocimene, trans-ocimene, p-cymene, terpinolene, copaene, bornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, cryptone, B-bisabolene, humulene monoxide, tridecanolide, pentadecanolide. [B. Lawrence, "Angelica Root Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist , December/January 1977, 31, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 140.]Cautions: Phototoxic. Avoid during pregnancy and high blood sugar. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 84.] Do not use if the area of application will be exposed to sunlight for 24 hours due to its phototoxicity.